Mass held to mark the anniversary of Francis McFarland's death

1. In all, 49 priests from around the country attended.
2. The Courant also marked the anniversary of McFarland’s death with a tribute published today.

Francis McFarland died on October 12, 1874.

At this point, McFarland’s successor was not yet in place.

Thomas Galberry succeeded Francis McFarland as Bishop of Hartford on March 19, 1876.

The Courant article stated that the mass had been held in the convent’s chapel, not in the pro-cathedral, which is what the chapel had previously been called.

1. “A gentleman whose loss to the city and state was of no ordinary magnitude, and who left a fragrant memory in the minds of all who enjoyed his acquaintance.”
2. “We do not intend to speak now of his eclesiastical [sic] merits, which were truly appreciated by his people of Hartford who entertain to-day a belief in this sanctity as the inhabitants of Assisi did for another Francis eight centuries ago.”
3. “There is little danger of his memory fading from the minds of the present generation in this city, and unless the Roman Catholics of Hartford prove ungrateful and ungenerous, the grounds of St. Joseph’s convent will soon be adorned by a suitable statute that will perpetuate his memory to succeding [sic] generations.”

Unattributed.  “Anniversary mass,” Hartford Daily Courant, October 13, 1875, page 2.

Unattributed.  “To-day is the first anniversary of the death of the Reverend Francis P. McFarland,” Hartford Daily Courant, October 12, 1875, page 2.